Interlocking fastener structure



Feb. 5, 1935. n. SILB ERMAN INTERLOOKING FAS TENER STRUCTURE Filed Sept.11

INVENTQR I ,Dm m .514 BE/iM/M/ 1 7 BY f 3 z I 4 i WITNESS EWW 8ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,990,464INTERLOCKING FASTENER STRUCTURE David Silberman, New York, N. Y.,

Waldes Koh-I-Noor, Inc., Long assignor to Island City,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to slide fasteners of the type in which opposedrows of interlocking elements are mounted respectively upon the edges ofstrips of flexible material and are adapted to be interlocked ordisengaged by a manually operated slider movable lengthwiselongitudinally of the rows of elements.

The object of the present invention is to improve such slide fastenersparticularly with respect to providing more reliable means than havethus far been used for limiting the movement of the slider at the end ofits travel over the elements in either direction.

Slide fasteners are generally made along the lines of the expiredSundback Patent 1,219,881 or in a form in which the metal elements arecovered by elastic material, as in the case of Waschiczecks Patent No.1,839,068, or in which the metal elements are concealed by fabric stripssewed down upon the elements as shown, for example in my pendingapplication Serial No. 600,178. In'all such structures the two tapes onwhich the metallic elements are supported are usually permanently unitedat one end by means of locking members in the form of clips providedwith prongs penetrating the fabric material and clinched against thetapes, the body of the lock-- ing' members spanning and permanentlyuniting the edge portions of the tapes. This method of uniting thetapes'has not proved entirely satisfactory because of a certainunsightliness of structure and because of the insuflicient holding powerof the clips against impacts of the-slider when the slider is eithercarelessly or over-vigorously drawn to the position where the tapes areunited by the clips and the fabric-cutting effect of the flat parts ofthe clip which extend through the stringer in line with the movement ofthe slider. In some instances where such fastener structures are used inconnection with articles where they are inherently subject to somewhatvigorous usage, as is the case where they are applied to the flyopenings of trousers, there is the danger that the locking clips will betorn loose from the tapes or become bent or broken when the slider isforced.

down hard against the locking clips too'often and too strongly.

It has also been customary to add to the end of each row of metalfasteners remotest from the point where the tapes are connected by thelocking clips, stop members to prevent the slider from being drawn pastthe rows of elements after they have all become locked. Here again acondition resulted from the use of metal stops or clips clinched in oragainst the tapes. which was not wholly satisfactory for reasons similarto those aboveset forth with respect to the locking mem-- bers.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improvedseparable fastener construction which will eliminate the aboveinentioneddifficulties and particularly to provide sightly stop andlocking members of sturdy constitution adequate to withstand the strainsof vigorous use and associated, in the region of the locking members,with a fabric cross-bar serving as a buffer or cushion for the lockingmembers when the slider is drawn to the fully open position of thefastener structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 1'5 will become apparentfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which I have shown, for the purposes of illustration, oneembodiment which my invention may assume in practice. In the drawing, 2QFig. 1 is a top view of the covered fastener tapes; Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a portion of a pair of trousers showin my improvedfastener structure applied to the fly openings thereof; Fig. 3 is anenlarged front view of the lower portion of the fastener structure shownin Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the parts shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 isa cross-section taken along the line 55 of Fig.

4; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the slider in its lowestposition; Fig. '7 is a section of the eyelet portion of Fig. 1 and Fig.8 is a crosssection taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 the tapes, to'which the metal fastener elements'9 are attachedat a thickened edge portion of said tapes, are indicated at '7 and 8.Covering strips 11 and 12 .completely cover the interlocked elements andare positioned with respect to the tapes '1 and 8 as well as withrespect to the fastener elements 9 by the stitches 24. The

construction is shown in greater detail in my 40 copending applicationSerial No. 600,178. The parts marked 14, 15 and 23 represent tubularmetallic elements or eyelets positioned through the cover strips and thethickened portion of the tape. 10 indicates the slider.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the trousers towhich the fastener structure is applied, includes a right leg section 1and a left leg section 2. As is usual in trousers of this type, theright fiy 3 is secured to the edge portion 59 4 of the right leg sectionand the left fly 5 is secured to the inner side of the edge portion 6 ofthe left leg section, the left fly 5 and edge portion 6 of the left legfabric overlapping and completely concealing the right fly 3 and theedge metal bar 16.

4 of the right leg section to which it is secured. A strip of lining orstiffening material may be secured to the left fly 5 intermediate suchfly and the inner side of the edge portion 6 of the left leg in theusual manner and a similar lining may be used in connection with theright fly 3.

The tape 7 and the cover strip 11 of the right fly stringer are securedto the edge portion 4 of the right leg section 1 between such edge andthe right fly 3 so that the edge portions of such tape and cover stripand the interlocking elements attached to the tape project over and infront of the right fly, as shown in Fig. 2. The tape 8 and the coverstrip 12 of the left fly stringer are secured to the inside face of theleft fly 5 so that when the fastener is closed the left fly overlaps andcompletely conceals the fastener structure and the edge portion 4. Theleft fly stringer may be first sewed on the left fly before any part ofthe fastener structure, including in this case the left fly itself, issewed to the leg section of the trousers or the left fly without thestringer may be first sewed in position and the fastener then sewed inplace by first sewing together the right fly stringer to the right flyand the edge of the right leg section and then sewing the left flystringer to the left fly. The two leg portions are, joined together inthe usual manner after the fastener has been secured in position.

The metallic elements are customarily attached to a thickened orreinforced edge of the tape as indicated, for example, at 25 in Fig. 5.I have found that the thickened edge of the tape is sufficiently strongto support in a thoroughly reliable and tenacious manner a tubular oreyelet type of stop. The presence at this point of the covering stripheld in place by the stitching 24, provides sumcient fabric material toinsure a flrm anchorage for the stops. The eyelet struc- Fig. 7) has atubular body 23 having an integral annular flange 26 at one end and isupset at 27 against a small metallic washer 28 at its other end. Therelatively small rounded top surface 26 of these eyelets gives them adecorative effect. The eyelets themselves, penetrating the whole of theseveral layers of fabric, operate as firmly anchored stops which arealbe dislodged no matter how vigorously the slider is drawn againstthem. Being tubular, they develop no fabric-cutting effects. They are,at least at the upper ends of the rows of elements slightly offset orout of alignment with respect to the rows of elements and this, despitetheir small dimensions (usually less in diameter than the length of afastener element) operate as a stop for the slider after the latter haslocked all the fastener elements together.

At the other end of the rows of metallic elements a similar eyeletstructure is used to form the locking members which hold the tapetogether and prevent the slider from passing. In this case, however, theeyelets not only pass through the tape but also through an additionalcross-bar 17 made of fabric and preferably having a corded or reinforcededge 18. The eyelets 14 and 15, instead of having their own individualwashers as in the case of the eyelets 23, have a single washer incommon. This washer is in the form of a flat The two eyelet members 14and 15 after penetrating the fabric portions are bridged by the bar 16,the edges of the eyelets extending through the apertures in said bar andcover strip and the thickened base 4 being thereupon upset against thebar. operations can be ing machine. The stringers or tapes ric cross-bar17 extends laterally of the fastener structure at thereof extending itslower end, the body portion over the elements at the bottom of the rowsand the lower edge portion thereof being positioned intermediate thetapes 7 and 8 of the fastener and the spacing bar 16 of the twin eyelet.As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the

eyelet portions 14 and 15 of the twin eyelet securely attach the loweredge portion of the crossbar 17 to the opposing edge portions of thetapes and cover strips immediately adjacent to the bottom elements ofthe fastener structure. The cross-bar 17 preferably consists of a pieceof 'tape material similar to that of which the tapes movement of theslider. The-edge portions 19 and 20 of the cross bar are permanentlyattached to the inner sides of the tapes 7 and 8 by the lines ofstitches 21 and 22 which may be made to participate in securing thestringers of the fastener to the left and right flies of the trousersthereby holding thebody portion of the cross-bar tightly up against theinner sides of the interlocking elements immediately above the twineyelet. Thus when the slider 10 is forced down to open the slider, itslower edge first engages the beaded portion 18 of the cross-bar whichcushions the force exerted on the slider and retards it from coming intocontact with the twin eyelet thereby eliminating the danger ofseparating the lower ends of the fastener stringers due to forcing theslider down the slider after long usage succeed in spreading orstretching the beaded portion of the cross-bar.

sufllciently to move it toward the eyelets 14, 15

- or to pass underneath, the taut fabric of the body portion thereof isalways intermediate the lower end of the slider's under wing and thetwin eyelet so that there is always sufficient material to cushion orbrake the downward force of the slider which by reason of thisconstruction hardly ever directly contacts with the twin eyelet.

In practice the stringers are sent from the place of manufacture to thegarment maker without any stitches such as 21 or 22 and those stitchesare put in by the garment maker in connection with the attachments ofthe stringers to the garment, but the correct position of the fabriccross piece 17 is, of course, determined by reason of the definiteeyelets 14 and In order to tener structure inadvertently opening whilein use,'it is desirable to provide a special means for locking theslider 10 with respect to the tape after it has interlocked the two rowsof fastener elements. As shown in Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawing this maybe accomplished by securing an eyelet structure adjacent to thethickened or reinforced edge of the tape and in alignment with respectto the ro of elements so that it 15 and their twin cross-bar 16.

hard too often. Should I association with the two prevent any likelihoodof the faswill pass within the slider 10, and providing a 'jection willbe inserted in the opening of the eyelet structure, the pomtion of thehandle 31 being maintained by the yoke 32 of the dider.

The eyelet structure in thiscase is similar to that of the eyelets 14,15 and 23 in that it has a tubular body 33 having an integralannularflange 34 but instead of being upset at its other end against awasher as in the case of the other eyelet structures, is upset at 35against the under surface of the tape so that the fastener structuredoes not project materially beyond the outer surfaces of the stringerand will readily pass into the slider. The eyelet 33 is preferablypositioned with respect to the stop eyelet 23 and the last interlockingelement in the row so that when the slider reaches the end of its pathof movement in closing the fastener structure, the eyelet 33 will becorrectly positioned in the slider for engagement by the projection 30on the handle of the slider. c

The construction described presents an exceedingly sightly andattractive product with ample strength for purposes of stoppin the diderat the upper eyelets 23 when the elements are all interlocked and withsuiiicient flexibility or cushioning effect at the opposite end toprevent or delay any direct contact between the slider and the metalliccross-bar 16 when the elements are all disengaged from each other whilethe lower eyelets 14 and 15 together with their cross-bar 16 present apowerful resistance to dislodgment of the parts. The size or length ofthe fastener structure may be printed or stamped on the fabric cross-bar17, as shown in Fig. 6, the fabric 1 material of the cross-barpreferably being of such color so that such printed matter can beclearly and readily seen. 7

While I have shown and described one embodiment which my invention mayassume in practice, it will be understood that this is merely for thepurposes of illustration and that various other forms may be devisedwithin the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener structure of the slide operatedtypecomprisingapairoffabricstrips reinforced at the edge portions, a rowof elements on each strip fastened to the thickened edge portion of thestrip and adapted to interlock with the row of fastener elements on theother strip, a slider to effect opening and closing of the fastenerstructure, a rigid tubular element situated at one end of each of therows of fastener I" u. I vi elements, each of said tubular elementshaving an integralflanged visiblehead atoneend,saidelements beingpositioned slightly out of t with their respective rows of fastenerelemmts andextendingthroughtheedgeoftheir respective strips, a singletwin washer member adjacenttothe other end of eaehsuchtnbularelw mentsand holding said elements together, an upset turned-back edge at saidother end of each of such tubular elements tightly pressed against andupon said washer member and a w 1 w, of fabric between the washer andthe of the fabric supporting strips and positioned and adapted forcomplete attachment to the strips by sewing seams extending through thestrips adjacent to the rows of fastener elements so as to present acushioning obstacle to the slider in movmstothefully structm'e aarismermmeormsuaeo mm' typeeomprislngapairoffabrlc supportingstrips,

arowoffastenerelementsoneachstrlpadapted tointerlockinin relation withthe rowoffastenerelementsontheotherstrimanoperatingslideruponslidingmovementthereoftoefl'ectclosingandopeningofthefastenerstructure,andabottmnstoppermanently securingsaid supportingstripstogetheratoneendof thefastenersiructureandincluding (a) meansadaptedtocushiontheforceofthesliderattheendofitsopeningmtsothatthesliderisstoppedwithoutstxesstendingtoseparatethe 15supportingstrips,saidmeanscomprisingacmss strip of flexible materialextending 'of thefastenerstructure, (b) arigidbarheldinpressedrelationtheundersideofthefastenersimctureadiacenttotheendsofthetwo 2o rowsof elementa(c)'tuhularpenetratingthestripsandthebar, (d)atthetopendsofthe-inbulm'members theuppersurfacesofthefabricsia'lpsinrelation.(e)upsetedgeatthe g5 teendsofthetubularmembersandbearingtightlyagainsttheimdersideofthebaradiacenttothepointswherethetuhularmembersektend throughsaidbarandd)stitchingsecurelyfasteningtheendportionsoftheiiexiblecrossstripsothatthebodyportionthereoflieatie tly against the under sides of thefastener elements inadvanceoftheclomdendofthefastenerstructure.

3. a structure such as defined in claim 2 inwhichtheeolorofthecrossstripofiiexible'ma-'terialjssuchthatmatterprintedthereoncanbe go4.Afstruch1reoftheslideoperated", typeapairoffabrlcsupportingstripa'arowdfastenerelementsoneaehstrlpadaptedtointerlockininrelationwiththerowoffastenerelementsontheothersh'lmaslideradapted'uponslidingtthereoftoeflect closingandofthefstructure,ahandlemountedonsaidsliderandadaptedtobe grasped for manually moving theslider lengthwiseofthefastener'structuraastop matleastmeof'thestrip aiacent totheupperendofitsrowoffastenerelements,andmeansforlockingthesliderwithrespecttosaidstripafterithaselosedthefastener structure, said means arelativelyrigidhollowmemberpenetratingsaidstrlpandbeingpermanentlytosaidstripadiacenttotheupperendofitsrowoffastenerelementsandadaptedtopasthroughsaldslidenandaprojectionearriedbythehandleofsaidsliderandadapt tobeinsertedintheopeningof the hollow member when thehandleismoved downtheoutersin'faceoftheslidensaid hollow member being sopositioned withrespect tothelastinterloeking elementin-therowandsaidstopthatwhenthesliderisstoppedbythe latterattheendofitsclosingtsaidhollowmemberwillbeeorrectlyedinsaid slider for t by the proieetiouronthe handleoftheslider. 7o

DAVID.

